Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 6220.9A
in reference (h) are applicable to the prevention of zoonotic and insect and arthropod-related
diseases. Additionally, adherence to shipboard preventive medicine programs helps ensure Coast
Guard vessels will not harbor disease-bearing insects or animals. Some policies to prevent infection
are:
a) Direct physical contact with alien migrants (or their effects) should be limited and purposeful;
b) Vessels used by alien migrants should be viewed as potential carriers of undesirable insects,
rodents and other disease bearing vectors. Contact between Coast Guard personnel and alien
vessels should be minimized to that essential for operational need;
c) Primary protective measures include use of deposable gloves and hand washing. Waterproof
footwear, bibs and goggles are generally unnecessary and offer little absolute protection beyond
that of disposable gloves and hand washing. Used protective clothing/equipment must be
properly decontaminated, discarded or otherwise appropriately handled;
d) All clothing, bedding and other objects used by alien migrants should undergo laundering,
decontamination or proper disposal;
e) Personnel must not exchange physical items (e.g., combs) with alien migrants;
f) Migrants should remain restricted to topside areas at all times and only allowed below decks
when required by operational circumstances; and
g) It is strongly recommended that animals, alive or dead, and their body parts (e.g., hides, fur,
horns) not be brought aboard Coast Guard vessels. The decision of whether or not to bring
animals on board lies solely with the unit Commanding Officer. If the decision is made to bring
an animal into the U.S., the Department of Agriculture must be notified and the animal will be
turned over to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) for a
quarantine period or be destroyed. Under no conditions should animals obtained from alien
sources be brought into the U.S. without adherence to U.S. importation and quarantine laws.
4. Sources of Additional Resources. Commander, MLC(k), Commandant (CG-113), and Commandant
(CG-1121) can be contacted regarding zoonotic and insect and arthropod-related disease prevention
and control.
G. Emerging Pathogens.
1. Overview. New diseases, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and potential
diseases, such as pandemic influenza, have emerged or will emerge as global threats despite
technological advances. Awareness of these emerging diseases will provide additional protection to
Coast Guard personnel.
2. Risk Factors. Risk factors for emerging diseases will depend upon multiple factors. Two diseases
of interest include SARS and pandemic influenza.
a) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). SARS is a viral respiratory illness that was
recognized as a global threat in March 2003, after first appearing in Southern China in
November 2002. SARS is caused by a previously unrecognized corona virus. The primary way
SARS is spread is via close person-to-person contact. It is transmitted by respiratory droplets
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